Time 4 Lime? Try “Time 4 Change”
by Kurt Linton a.k.a Dirkmouse “Da Bouse”
“As of now my perception is not only of high-class robbery but an injustice at minimum on the Barbadian public.”
I was recently doing some web browsing in search of a smartphone. It has been (3) years since I have owned a cellphone and due to the change in social behaviors I decided it was time to make a move.
My friend pointed me to LIME (http://www.time4lime.com). She knowing I’m an Apple fan boy thought I would be interested in the iPhones they now have on offer. Interested I was indeed and so I made my way over to have a look.
On landing on their website, the iPhone promotion was in full bloom. I clicked on the banner and was forwarded to the page with all the details. On first glance the prices did look affordable considering there are smart-phones priced $1300 and over. The iPhones ranged from $499 – $1099 with a choice of (2) generations and (3) models to be had.
On further inspection I noticed that they were only being offered on “Post Plan” packages and not “Prepaid”. In fact the site states, “You can select from 3 postpaid plans and the cost for the iPhone of your choice will vary based on your selected plan. IPhones will not be available for sale with any other plans or unlocked. Prepaid plans are not available at this time.”
(click image for large or see it on LIME website here.)
Now any good shopper compares prices to make sure they are getting ‘bang for buck’ and that’s what I proceeded to do. As I browsed around I came across “Postpaid Plans & Rates” (See screenshot below)
(click image for large or see it on LIME website here.)
Keeping in mind that iPhone packages are different and isolated from all other mobile brands and handsets lets compare the two. (The images were placed side by side for ease of reference)
(click on photo to enlarge)
Now can you tell me what’s wrong with this picture?
First and foremost, the cost of minutes on an iPhone handset is by far more expensive than that of any other mobile phone. Imagine you can have a Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola or Sony Ericsson from the same service provider “LIME” and be able to select a package featured on their “Post Paid Plans & Rates” table. What’s so different when it comes to the iPhone?
Why do iPhone users have to pay more?
Why are “Voice” and “Data” bundled only on iPhone two things that are separate and distinct from each other? A huge marketing error maybe? Come on… Whats going on here? Is this reality? Is this a blatant attempt by LIME to gouge the pockets of working Barbadians? All these questions and more have plagued my mind.
In my opinion this pricing imbalance needs to be addressed and if can be…. justified at once! We need answers and all relevant information and/or data to support the pricing announced. As of now my perception is not only of high-class robbery but an injustice at minimum on the Barbadian public.
Additionally, the separation of the Apple brand from other handsets, directs the thinking faculties to some form of discrimination towards or singling out of would-be iPhone users. As far as I know, based on information fed or read in print, all of these phones/handsets (iPhones or otherwise) will be operating on (1) one… and in fact, the same cellular network owned and maintained by LIME. Therefore in my humble opinion, all handsets should be able to take advantage of any cellular package on offer and billed equally for fair use of same.
This injustice should not be tolerated or overlooked by the Barbadian public and therefore I urge you to stand and fight because it is “Time 4 Change”!
Written by Kurt Linton
a.k.a Dirkmouse “Da Bouse”
http://www.dirkmouse.com / twitter: http://twitter.com/dabouse246
iPhone 4 Barbados flag case by Zazzle.com
Barbados Free Press 
The difference is they are subsidizing the cost of the phone. Other handsets you pay full price but the iphone you are paying for as part of the monthly plan. Duh.
the reason for the ‘bundling of voice and data” is probably because Iphones are bandwidth hogs and will use the network more heavily than the blackberry.
Also probably because the Iphone is new to Lime and is viewed as a premium product. Watch for the following things to happen.
1. Digicel will begin to offer and support the iphone.
2. As the early adopters (suckers) all get taken up with the iphone, prices will drop to bring the laggards in but only after Lime has sold as many Iphones as it can at the highest prices.
3. Blackberries will become passe and the Iphone will become the new bling. Lime will move people off “bandwidth conserving” blackberries and onto “bandwidth hogging” iphones, and charge them more for the data packages or the voice/data packages and earn record profits next year.
my two cents lime customer sevice women at the various outlets are among the rudest . female officers in immigration and customs nor gas station attendants have nothing on lime custmer sevice personnel when it comes to letting the customer know they dont give a f # # k about them. to me lime service is high class robbery
LIME leads the way! After many years of being unable to get an iPhone on the LIME network, they now offer the phone LOCKED while it can now be purchased most anywhere else in the world UNLOCKED. Gotta love that company as they show leadership in telecommunications.
Mr Linton you have said it well, docile consumers will shut up and pay up through the nose. Can’t wait for Digicel to break out the iPhone. Wish too that I could dump LIME for attempting to take advantage of their customers again and at the price being offered, I don’t think that amounts to a subsidy.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful one morning when you wake up you understand LIME & CBC doesn’t/ and never exited?
@ previous comment
One could only dream. I cant believe that people still use lime phones.
CBC is another thing all together, I used to get up early to watch Mornin Barbados, but it seems that CBCs goal is to get as many persons to interview within a two hour time frame. I mean good gosh, what is the sense in asking someone to be on the program, and then they don’t get adequate time to speak about, what they are doing, the organisation they represent or whatever. Always rushing the people of the tv.
Someone is actually crazy enough to buy a 4G iPhone even the 3G model to run on LIME’S extra slow network? The applications those phones require high bandwidth in order to function properly, I run an Android phone and I only get good performance out of it on my home Wi Fi or if I am lucky enough to find an open Wi Fi while moving around. Errors upon errors I get even if I connect via EDGE. Waste of money and LIME is just milking the cow.
Are these unlocked/altered phones??? Barbados still doesn’t have an iTunes store!!! So I wonder how persons are going to activate them?
When you open iTunes, under the menu item “Store” click on “iTunes Store” then scroll allll the way down. On the bottom right you’ll see a flag. Click it. This will show all available iTunes stores. The only one(s) in the Caribbean are: “Jamaica” and “Dominican Republic”. So what will happen there? Only be able to download from LIME?
Lime is bringing the phone at the same time as their 4G network(really 3G) plus the iphone is only 3G. So the slow speeds supposed to disappear. Also a local itunes store should be on the cards and if you want and unlocked iphone just order the $1400 dollar one from Canada. Its not that beg a deal. And I am not a Lime lover by any means.
@Anonymou. Unlocking an iPhone is not always failsafe. For one thing it’ll void your Apple warranty, for a next Apple is known to push-out updates from their end and if your unlocked phone gets it, it can turn your iPhone into an expensive paperweight. Lastly. Anyone with an iPhone that’s been unlocked from a specific carrier’s settings knows if someone takes up or uses your phone and they press that “update” button, your phone is toast. Not good if you have kids in your home…
The $1400 unlocked iPhone (btw these can also now be bought unlocked from any Apple store in the US for about $1500 BDS) that 150 mentioned is a factory unlocked phone, which can safely be used worldwide on any carrier (using a sim card) therefore there are no issues with voiding the warranty or anything like that.
Guy unlocking your Phone does NOT void your warranty, and the Caribbean itunes store is in the works, also sorry say iPhone packages are ALWAYS more expensive, and that data is allways packaged separate, like wise a BB has a separate. in the US, u have a 2 yr contract, u have to pay extra for txt msg (or pay $20 for unlimited) play per MMS AND ur data is throttled after the 1st 2 GBs. plus the 299 upfront cost. so LIME’s deal isnt that bad after all boys and girls
@ FYI. & Deborah
Subject to something else having changed since April…
Article: Unlock iPhones without jailbreaking
Date: April 12, 2011 12:47 PM PDT
Source: http://www.cnet.com – Cnet.com
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20053203-285/unlock-iphones-without-jailbreaking/?tag=mncol;2n
“Without voiding your warranty, too. Just one problem: it ain’t cheap. But at least one prominent source has confirmed that it works–and remotely, at that!”
—
Article: User denied iPhone warranty service for custom ringtone
Date: January 9, 2008 12:00 AM PST
Source: http://www.cnet.com – CNET.com
Link: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10115290-233.html?tag=mncol;5n
“Rodriguez’ iPhone stopped working properly after it was cycled off and on. The “Incorrect SIM” error message he received is symptomatic of failed unlock attempts, but can also occur for users who never attempted an unlock. This issue can sometimes be resolved by removing the iPhone’s SIM card, then connecting the phone to your computer (sans-SIM card) and restoring (as described in this article), though that fix did not prove successful for Rodriguez.
“
Just a little advice to my fellow Barbadians. We take what we get here in Barbados so instead of complaining and letting it sleep, get up and do something about it. I bought a brand new iPhone 4 32gb for less than $900 bds and they are making you pay close to $2100 for the same model on pre-paid, and another thing their postpaid plan is nothing but high-way robbery. i rather get a pre-paid data service for the $65 a months and limit my phone calls. Oh and one more thing, if we want luxury items that were original not meant for the Caribbean and you dont know how to maintain them leave them alone and stop complaining.
Please understand that iPhone plans are different because specific services run EXCLUSIVELY on iPhones (like visual voicemail and more) for which the service provider enters a profit-share with APL. Exactly the same with the BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) that service providers need to have to power BBM and other blackberry specific functions (OTA updates etc). Call a duck a duck, but not everything with a beak quacks.